Dec 27 Snow

Residents are digging themselves out today after a snowstorm hit Burlington overnight, bringing approximately 15 centimetres of snow.

City snowplows started salting and sanding roads mid-afternoon on Wednesday, with plowing starting on primary roads around 10 p.m., according to Cathy Robertson, director of the city’s roads and parks maintenance department.

“We do a pre-application of brine that helps stop the snow from adhering to the road, so that was going on for about 24 hours before that,” she said.

Primary roads are cleared first, followed by secondary roads and then residential.

As of Thursday morning, the primary roads were cleared twice – once last night and again early this morning. Work had started on the remaining network of city streets.

“Right now, they (plows) are on secondary and residential roads,” Robertson said. “There’s a fair amount (left). We’ll probably be doing plowing and cleanup for the rest of the day.”

Sidewalk clearing started at 6 a.m. Thursday morning along primary roads. It will next be done on secondary and residential sidewalks.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if that goes into tomorrow (Friday) at this point,” Robertson said. “We don’t like to do it when it is really dark out because it is hard to see and we don’t want to damage people’s sod.”

Robertson said she anticipates the cleanup of roads and sidewalks to be completed by Friday.

She said city’s standard is to have everything cleared 24 hours after the storm has finished.

There were approximately 30 plows on Burlington roads clearing the latest snowfall, with crews of city and contract staff working 12-hour shifts.

“The guys did an amazing job,” Robertson said. “A big thank you to everyone, including the public for their patience.”

Robertson asks residents to only drive around the city today if necessary and not park on city streets if possible.

She also reminds residents to wait 24 hours after snowfall has stopped before contacting the city with snow clearing concerns by e-mail at rpm@burlington.ca.